Eight states take Nexstar to court

Eight state attorneys general filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to stop Nexstar Media’s proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. The states say the deal would concentrate too much local TV ownership in one company, raise prices for pay-TV customers, and damage local news coverage.

Who is involved

  • Nexstar Media: currently owns 201 stations across 116 markets.
  • Tegna: owns 64 stations in 51 markets.
  • If the deal goes through, the combined company would control 265 stations.

The eight states suing are California, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut, and Virginia. They filed the case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleging the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which bars deals that substantially lessen competition.

What the states say

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned the merger would create ‘‘incredibly high levels of concentration in local TV markets’’ and could push up cable and satellite costs. He said the combined company would reach about 80 percent of U.S. television households and called the transaction ‘‘illegal, plain and simple.’’

New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized that competition among local stations keeps options affordable and maintains independent local reporting. The states argue Nexstar has a history of consolidating newsrooms when it owns more than one station in a market, which can reduce independent coverage and diversity of viewpoints.

Regulatory background and Nexstar’s position

Current FCC rules limit any TV group from owning stations that reach more than 39 percent of U.S. TV households. Nexstar has asked the FCC for a waiver of that ownership cap.

Nexstar and Tegna have said the merger will strengthen local news and programming. Nexstar’s chairman and CEO Perry Sook has framed the deal as important for the future of local television and has argued that ownership rules are outdated. In public comments last year, Nexstar aligned with calls to reduce those ownership limits.

Political support and who can stop it

The deal has notable political backing. On February 7, 2026, President Donald Trump posted a social media message urging regulators to approve the merger. FCC chair Brendan Carr has also expressed support for changing the TV ownership rule.

Still, the federal government has tools to block the transaction. The Department of Justice and the FCC both have authority to challenge or deny mergers on competition grounds. The states’ lawsuit seeks a court declaration that the merger is illegal and a permanent injunction preventing the companies from closing the deal.

Why this matters

The case hinges on competition and the health of local journalism. If the court and regulators allow a large consolidation, critics say communities could end up with fewer independent newsrooms, less varied coverage, and higher costs for viewers who rely on bundled pay-TV services.

The lawsuit makes clear the states plan to use antitrust law to block what they describe as a deal that would tilt power toward a small number of large owners at the expense of consumers and local newsrooms.